At least 11 suspected al Qaeda militants were killed in Yemen 's southern province of Abyan in clashes that erupted Tuesday night and continued for at least 14 hours , according to officials and local residents .

A senior security official in Abyan said that government troops shelled militants ' hideouts to force them out of Abyan .

`` The province turned into a gathering point for terror militants over the last five months . Fighters continue to arrive to Abyan from everywhere , '' said the security official , who is not authorized to talk to media .

He added , `` Clashes with the militants were strong over the last four days -- and troops will not step down until the entire province is back in the hands of the government . ''

Eyewitnesses in the area confirmed that at least four of the killed were foreign fighters , one of them from Saudi Arabia .

`` Because clashes were in the middle of the town , the bodies of foreigners laid on the roads for hours , '' said Abdullah Abu Kareem , a local in Zinjibar .

Security officials in Abyan told CNN that at least 65 foreign fighters were killed in Abyan since May .

`` They started entering the province in large numbers two months ago . Before that , nearly all of the al Qaeda fighters here were Yemeni , '' added Abu Kareem .

A senior defense ministry official confirmed that foreigners were among the killed over the last week but said the they are in small numbers compared to the Yemeni fighters .

Eyewitnesses told CNN that clashes took place on main roads and destroyed property .

Yemen 's security has been a worry for the international community for years , and has increased even more after the political stalemate in the country eased communication between terror networks in Yemen .

`` Al Qaeda can still be dealt with in Yemen . It is not a great danger yet . However , if this file is not resolved soon , then al Qaeda could be a threat to not only Yemen but the entire region , '' said Mohammed Abulahoum , the president of the opposition Justice and Building party .

Ansaar Sharia , an extremist militant group with links to al Qaeda , took over large areas in Abyan province last May after government forces evacuated hundreds of troops from their original posts .

More than 100,000 residents left the province months ago and are living in shelters in neighboring Aden and Lahj provinces .

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Clashes began Tuesday night and continued for 14 hours

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Eyewitnesses confirmed that at least four of the dead were foreign fighters

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Security officials say at least 65 foreign fighters have been killed in Abyan since May